At the heart of addressing challenging behaviour lies the ability to distinguish between its causes and triggers. Understanding the root causes and immediate triggers of behaviours that challenge is crucial for effective management and safe intervention.
This article aims to shed light on these two distinct but interconnected concepts, providing clarity for carers in health and social care. By understanding the nuanced differences between causes and triggers, we can develop more effective strategies for managing and supporting individuals with challenging behaviour.
The Root – Causes of Challenging Behaviour
Root causes are the underlying factors that predispose an individual to showing behaviours that challenge. They are often deep-seated and complex, usually developing over a long period. Understanding these causes requires a comprehensive look at an individual’s history, psychological makeup, and overall health. Key aspects include:
Biological Causes: Genetic predispositions, neurochemical imbalances, and brain injuries can all influence behaviour. Chronic medical conditions causing ongoing pain or discomfort may also play a role.
Environmental Factors: Long-term exposure to a stressful, neglectful, or abusive environment can lead to the development of these actions.
Psychological Causes: Mental health disorders, emotional trauma, and past experiences of abuse or neglect can significantly impact an individual’s behaviour below the surface and are often invisible.
Social Causes: Early childhood experiences, family dynamics, and cultural or societal influences play a significant role in shaping a person’s behaviour.
These behaviours don’t stem from a singular cause and often emerge from a combination of various factors. Recognising that challenging behaviour is multifaceted and individualised to each patient is crucial for developing long-term holistic management strategies.
The Spark – Triggers of Challenging Behaviour
Triggers, on the other hand, are the immediate incidents or situations that precipitate a challenging response. They can be thought of as the spark that ignites the underlying fuel provided by the causes. Triggers are highly individual and contextual, and can be as varied as a certain tone of voice, a specific environment, or a feeling of frustration or misunderstanding. Key aspects include:
Communication Difficulties: If a person is unable to communicate their needs, desires, or frustrations effectively, they might engage in challenging behaviours as a way of expressing themselves. Conflicts, perceived threats, or miscommunications with carers can also act as triggers.
Unmet Needs: This includes basic needs like hunger, thirst, or the need for sleep, as well as more complex emotional or social needs such as a need for attention, sensory input, or a sense of autonomy and independence.
Sensory Sensitivities: Some individuals may have heightened sensitivities to sensory stimuli (like light, sound, touch, or smell), which can lead to discomfort or distress. An environment that is overstimulating, chaotic, or not structured to meet the individual’s needs can play a contributing factor.
Physical Discomfort or Pain: If a person is in pain or experiencing discomfort, they may exhibit behaviours that challenge to express their distress.
Emotional Distress: Feelings of frustration, anxiety, fear, or anger can lead to challenging behaviours, particularly if the person lacks the social skills to express these emotions healthily.
The potential to trigger challenging behaviour varies greatly depending on the individual and the context in which it occurs. Recognising that every individual is unique is crucial; a trigger for one person might not affect another in the same way.
Why Understanding Both is Important
The key distinction lies in the timeframe and complexity. Root causes are often ingrained and require long-term strategies to address, involving a deep understanding of the individual’s history and personal circumstances. Immediate triggers are more about the ‘here and now’ – they are the specific, often observable incidents. By addressing both, care providers can develop more effective strategies for managing and preventing aggressive behaviour.
Long-term vs. Short-term Management: Causes require long-term strategies, while triggers often call for immediate action. Long-term management strategies target the root causes, while immediate interventions are designed to address and minimise triggers.
Personalised Care Plans: Knowing both causes and triggers allows for more tailored and effective individualised care plans. Recognising that each individual’s triggers and root causes are unique is crucial for providing tailored care and support.
Preventive Strategies: Awareness of triggers can lead to preventive measures, reducing the frequency and intensity of aggressive episodes. While managing immediate triggers can prevent or de-escalate a challenging situation, understanding and addressing root causes can reduce the overall frequency and intensity of such behaviours.
Conclusion
In summary, while root causes and immediate triggers are interrelated, they require different approaches in terms of care and intervention. A nuanced understanding of both allows for more effective, compassionate, and individualised care. A comprehensive care strategy in any setting should consider both to effectively support individuals exhibiting challenging behaviours.
About the author
James Hourihan set up Timian Learning and Development in 1994 and has over 30 years experience in delivering training programmes in positive behaviour management to staff across the UK and Overseas. He has developed training programmes which have been certified By BILD Act and approved by the RRN. James has a Bachelors in Development Studies and a Masters Degree in Social Sciences as well as a Postgraduate Certificate in Mental Disability. He also helped develop the BILD Physical Interventions Accreditation Scheme in 2002.
